A BRIEF HISTORY OF SUWANEE FIRST 

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

In the latter part of the 19th century, when the village of Suwanee began to grow, the people of the town held worship services in the schoolhouse.  No regular pastoral appointments were made at first, and services were held when a pastor could be secured.

 As early as 1873, however, regular services were held for that year the Duluth Circuit was formed and Suwanee was one of seven churches on the circuit.

 Sometime after this formation, a revival was held in Suwanee and several new members joined the church.  Shortly afterward, in 1876, the Suwanee Methodist Church was formally organized with 34 charter members. It was the first church in town.

 The original church building was constructed around 1880 at the end of Main Street where the Wilson and Verner Gin once stood.  In 1909 the building was severely damaged by a storm, and the members of the church decided to construct a new building rather than to repair the older one. A new site was chosen for the building, away from the center of town, where the church had been located so near the railroad and the water tank as services had often been disrupted by trains passing and stopping for water.  The new structure, the present sanctuary, was erected in 1910 at a cost of two thousand dollars by Gus Jones on the hilltop site donated by Joe Scales.   

In 1941, when the Duluth Methodists decided to go half-time, the Suwanee Charge was formed with five churches.  In 1952, three classrooms were built and gas heat was installed.  Around 1954, a parsonage was built on a corner lot on Main Street donated by Mrs. Vesta Verner.

 At the 1960 Annual Conference, Suwanee was made a station church and continued to be served by a student pastor.  In 1974, the church envisioned possibilities for growth in ministry to the community, assumed the responsibility of a station church with a full-time pastor.

 In 1975, a long-awaited dream became a reality when an educational building with classrooms, fellowship hall, kitchen, and restroom facilities was completed at a cost of approximately $25,000.  Several members of the church, under the leadership of Loyd Kennedy, constructed the building.

 The church today offers itself in ministry and mission to children, youth, and adults in its congregation, community and world.